“As today’s global marketplace is constantly changing, and the logistics of capitalizing on growth in emerging markets make travel more complex than ever before, it is not enough to just develop a corporate travel policy and assume that employees know what to do with it,” said Helen Brough, Advisory Services Global Policy Practice Director, American Express Global Business Travel. “Companies should be actively leveraging and communicating their travel policy to employees and enlisting influencers within the company such as Human Resources, Security and Legal to support these efforts.”

Less than One Third of Companies Have Updated their  Corporate Travel Policies within the Last Year According to New Research from American Express Global Business Travel.

Corporate Travel Policy Tips Include:

• Make it Accessible: There are many ways a company can address communicating to travelers and encouraging compliance, including using pre-trip tools, policy messages integrated at the point of sale and even prior to booking. Intranets and other portals can also provide a channel to communicate policy to help travelers make the right decisions.

• Appeal to the Traveler: If travelers do not understand their travel policy or know where to find it, it is unlikely that it will be adhered to or that travelers will be able to benefit from the perks.  Most employees want to do the right thing by the business, so businesses need to let employees know what is in it for the company and for them.  That way the traveler can benefit from the perks of following the policy and the company can benefit from travel policy compliance.

• Revisit for Relevancy: Establish a policy team with representatives from all stakeholders, including those that can represent the traveler, and charge them with the maintenance of the travel policy.  Then communicate changes to travelers so everyone can stay current.

• Eliminate Uncertainty: It has been reported that one in four expense reports is typically sent back to the traveler for clarification or additional documentation support. Travel policy should take into consideration the process for expense reimbursement. The better a traveler understands the reimbursement process, the less time will be spent on re-doing these reports.

This new Best Practice Roadmap report on Travel Policy, produced by EXPERT INSIGHTS, shows many organizations still need to close the gap between their policy content and emerging industry trends.

Related Articles:

• Does Your Company Need To Update Its Travel Policy?
• Total Travel Management Compensation Up 5% Over 2010
• Incentive Research Foundation Survey Says: Economy Impacting Incentive Travel Trends

Welcome To The City

 
New research by American Express Global Business Travel outlines gaps and opportunities for companies to strengthen managed travel programs by focusing on their travel and expense policies early this year. Analyzing nearly 100 travel policies of global, multinational, and mid-sized companies, the research shows less than one third of these companies overall have updated their travel policies within the last year. This oversight can leave companies exposed to losing hard-earned corporate negotiated rates, and more importantly, may put travelers at unnecessary risk.

“It’s a new year and with any good business practice, corporate travel departments are setting goals, including bringing their programs in line with the competition and external marketplace dynamics,” said Christa Degnan Manning, director of EXPERT INSIGHTS research, American Express Global Business Travel. “However, like many improvement resolutions, reviewing and revising travel policy tends to get neglected. Yet a healthy travel policy can help companies achieve long-term success. Policies can support business-critical goals such as risk mitigation and employee engagement, as they touch on issues from traveler safety and security to corporate social responsibility.”

This new Best Practice Roadmap report on Travel Policy, produced by EXPERT INSIGHTS, shows many organizations still need to close the gap between their policy content and emerging industry trends.

Highlights of the policy gaps exposed in this report, based on 100 corporate policies reviewed, include:

• Only 12% addressed traveler security despite it being a critical issue for companies to consider as more and more employees embark on worldwide business travel today
• 80% did not address reimbursement of ancillary fees such as checked bags, reservation change fees, or other for-purchase services offered at hotels and car rentals
• Only 35%  of smaller companies and large international organizations require an agency to book hotels, compared to 85% of global companies
• None of the travel policies addressed the use of mobile applications or even referenced tools they may have available for travelers to use on the road or when working remotely
• 70 percent of companies do not provide specific guidelines to travelers on when it makes sense to book airfares through a non-preferred supplier if the ticket price is less expensive

“Policy is the foundation of a successful managed travel program and maintaining this infrastructure by conducting regular check-ups is paramount,” said Helen Brough, Advisory Services Global Policy Practice Director, American Express Global Business Travel. “In our policy practice we have identified over 300 areas companies should be reviewing in their policy for the best outcomes – for the company, for the traveling employees, and for ultimate travel management program success. Companies that are most successful are those that regularly review and update their travel policies based on changing market conditions as well as focus on communicating those policies to their travelers.”

FILLING THE GAPS

• Security: Companies should provide guidance to their travelers for the range of areas associated with security, such as how to prepare for a trip, what to do during a trip, and after travel, particularly when traveling to high-risk destinations. Guidance around what to do during a travel emergency or disruption should also not go overlooked in policies, as well as information on security around company assets.

• Fees: Addressing the various fees that travelers are confronted with while on the road remains a policy opportunity. It should be made easier on travelers in understanding what is reimbursable as well as being made aware of waived fees and other benefits associated with booking with preferred suppliers, such as free checked baggage on airlines or complimentary wi-fi as part of a hotel rate.

• Hotel Compliance: Safety and security rank at the top of the list of reasons for traveler compliance to hotel policy. Knowing the city to which a traveler is headed is only half of the equation, particularly when locating travelers in an emergency. This area also poses the greatest area of leakage in travel policy, compromising negotiated rates when booking hotels outside of policy. Companies should communicate to travelers the reasons for booking hotels at the same time as air reservations.

• Mobile Technology: There have been advancements in travel technology that can help business travelers manage trip details before, during and after traveling. Company supported mobile applications can be used to facilitate communication, both during critical issues like travel emergencies and for day-to-day support, including policy and traveler benefits notifications.  A successful travel policy should include rules for these resources, and help travelers find and take advantage of them to save time and increase compliance.
• Addressing Lowest Logical Airfare: Companies increasingly have introduced language instructing employees to find the lowest fare possible, regardless of whether or not a flight is with a preferred supplier. The reality of this practice is that the individual trip savings by booking cheaper fares with non-preferred airlines can jeopardize negotiated rates, unintentionally driving up overall travel costs over time. Guidelines should be established indicating when this practice should be used. Recent capacity constraints, merger and acquisition activity, and even low-cost carrier dynamics require that travel managers revisit this concept and communicate it appropriately in policy.

The one thing companies can’t afford not to do: UPDATING TRAVEL POLICY. Less than one third of companies have updated their travel policies within the last year according to new research from American Express Global Business Travel.

Related Articles:

• Total Travel Management Compensation Up 5% Over 2010
• Incentive Research Foundation Survey Says: Economy Impacting Incentive Travel Trends
• GBTA Acquires ITM’s Project Icarus to Create Travel Industry’s First Global Sustainability Program
• Global Business Travel Spending To Rise 9.2% in 2011

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Global Meeting & Incentive Travel Exchanges (GMITE), a division of Questex Hospitality + Travel, announced that it has sold out supplier positions for the fifth consecutive year for its flagship event, Incentive Travel Exchange (ITE), held in partnership with Site. The seventh annual ITE, being held from June 17-19, 2012 at THE hotel at Mandalay Bay, brings together top-producing incentive buyers and global suppliers for three days of high-caliber networking. A wait list is available for suppliers looking to participate.

“Selling out for the fifth consecutive year is an amazing testament to the strength of Incentive Travel Exchange and the relationships that result from attendance,” states Danielle Cirami-Gillis, global event director, Global Meeting & Incentive Travel Exchanges. “Year after year, the event receives high marks from supplier partners because of the interactive format that mirrors the incentive-quality experience our delegates create for their clients.”

The suppliers in attendance at ITE will include the most sought after incentive destinations across the globe including: hotels and resorts, spas, destinations, cruise lines, tour operators, destination management companies and more. For the complete supplier list please visit the event website. Applications for supplier positions at sister event, Caribbean Meeting & Incentive Travel Exchange (CMITE) are being accepted. For information on joining the ITE wait list or applying for CMITE, please contact Danielle Cirami-Gillis.

Applications for 2012 fully-hosted buyer positions are extremely limited and are being accepted online at IncentiveTravelExchange.com. Buyers who book domestic and international incentive programs are encouraged to apply immediately as buyer interest is at an all-time high. Interested buyers may also contact buyer relations director, Cindy Binder at 914-400-6648.

Related Articles:

• Total Travel Management Compensation Up 5% Over 2010
• Incentive Research Foundation Survey Says: Economy Impacting Incentive Travel Trends
• Exhibit Surveys Launches Two Booth Performance Analysis Services

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photo by clinicalcorrelations.org

Plans are actively underway at the Palais des congrès in Montréal as it prepares to host the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) World Cancer Congress, being held for the first time in Canada from August 27 to 30, 2012. The event, which was secured with the collaboration of Tourisme Montréal, will attract 3,000 cancer prevention and treatment experts from 120 countries to Montréal under the theme Connecting for Global Impact. It is estimated the World Cancer Congress will generate over $5 million for the city’s economy.

Palais Des Congrès Getting Ready to Welcome Delegates

“Everyone at the Palais is working hard to ensure the World Cancer Congress reflects Montréal’s excellence in life sciences,” explains Marc Tremblay, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Société du Palais des congrès de Montréal. He adds: “The delegates will enjoy high performance hi-tech facilities and unique venues right in the city’s downtown, like our fully furnished terrace, at a time of year when Montréal is brimming with festivals and special events.”

Says Dr. Michel Gélinas, President and Cofounder of the Fondation québécoise du cancer and President of the Local Host Committee, “Montréal was selected because of the exceptional efforts and the impressive extent to which the local scientific community – universities, hospitals, research centres – mobilized to bring this essential event in the fight against cancer to Montréal.”

The Canadian Local Host Committee for the World Cancer Congress is composed of volunteers and individuals with strong beliefs in the fight against cancer. They are responsible for facilitating the UICC’s task of organizing the event in Canada and to help promote this event to Canadian delegates and potential partners. Their work wonderfully demonstrates the potential reach and scope of the life sciences sector, widely recognized as a segment of excellence for the Québec economy, and represented by Montréal InVivo, the life sciences cluster comprised of over 620 organizations.

Related Articles:

• Meeting Industry Association Helps Haiti
• Fairmont Zooms Past Mere “Local” Cuisine With New Hyperlocal Menu Items

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Exhibit Surveys, Inc., the leading provider of research, measurement, and consulting services exclusively for the exhibition and event industry announced in December 2011 that two new products are now available to enhance Return on Investment (ROI) and Return on Objectives (ROO) for exhibitors.

Booth Design and Effectiveness Study

Measuring the effectiveness of exhibit design and in-booth activities provides factual, reliable, and third-party research and consultation to justify changes to an existing booth or invest in an entirely new booth, its graphics, and in-booth activities. Delivers the critical data necessary to implement changes that will improve performance and selectively attract more of the right visitors. Quantifies visitor activity and provides feedback to evaluate specific tactical aspects and features of the exhibit for future planning. Tests ideas for future exhibit design and in-booth activities.

Booth Observation and Competitive Intelligence Gathering Services

Exhibit Surveys has developed a detailed set of criteria to evaluate and compare booth design, activities, and personnel against that of specific competitors’. An experienced Exhibit Surveys’ project manager keenly observes the exhibit and competitors’ exhibits during the exhibition. After the show, Exhibit Surveys delivers an unbiased, detailed, report highlighting and illustrating each exhibit’s activities. Actionable recommendations and insights are included.

“Through the decades, we have developed myriad proprietary research tools to assess and analyze exhibits and events, and we’ve applied these insights to our two new products,” commented Joe Federbush, vice president, sales and marketing, Exhibit Surveys Inc. “Our experienced research and consulting staff is uniquely qualified to utilize these tools to provide recommendations and direction that can be immediately applied toward improving exhibit results and ensure success.”

Related Articles:

• PCMA Holds Inaugural Town Hall Meeting at 2012 Convening Leaders
• Smart City Networks releases findings of telecommunications and technology survey
• IMEX America Exceeding Tradeshow Forecasts

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photo by everyonesanoriginal.com

With a belief that eating well but wisely begins at an early age, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts will be ramping up its children’s menu offerings to include an expanded array of creative dishes that are both delicious and nutritious.

No Kidding: Fairmont Hotels and Resorts New Menus Offer Healthy Dining For Young Travellers

With a nod to the brand’s Lifestyle Cuisine, that addresses common dietary requests such as low-fat, vegetarian and low-carbohydrate, these new children’s menu options offer a healthy twist on the usual kid-friendly favorites such as chicken strips, pizza, spaghetti with meatballs and even chocolate mousse.  More discerning young diners can choose offerings such as The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa’s Loch Duart Salmon with Glazed Vegetables or Chicken Quesadillas with Corn Tortillas and Oaxaca Cheese at Fairmont Mayakoba.

Fairmont Chefs ensure these pint-sized offerings reflect the same basic principals as Lifestyle Cuisine and address the nutritional guidelines established for children by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.  Proactive steps include swapping out refined flour for whole wheat, incorporating fruits and vegetables into recipes to help meet the recommended daily fiber allowance, and employing alternative cooking methods to help ensure healthier choices are made available to young diners.  Although the same nutritional parameters guide Fairmont chefs across the globe, actual menu offerings reflect the distinctive style and unique food products of each destination.

“In addition to adapting many favorite dishes to a healthier format, we have introduced new menu items created by our chefs under the watchful eye of Fairmont Nutritional Advisor Katya Baxter, MBA, RNCP, a leader in the culinary field.” says Mariano Stellner, Fairmont’s Corporate Director, Food & Beverage.  “We are focusing on delicious, wholesome menu options parents want their children to have and that kids will actually eat.”

While these nutritious selections will be available at all Fairmont hotels by the end of March 2012, many properties have already begun sharing their healthy cuisine expertise within their local communities.  Fairmont Monte Carlo in Monaco introduced their Little Chefs program in 2010 and to date has taught over 60 public school students about seasonality, nutritional values and how to prepare their favorite foods.  Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa’s sponsorship of the agricultural program at a local high school sees the hotel’s culinary brigade participate in and lead tutorials on campus, and Fairmont Pittsburgh recently established a partnership with Grow Pittsburgh that will turn an inner city school yard into an edible garden and result in the hotel’s kitchen team teaching students how to grow, harvest and cook fresh vegetables.

A pioneer when it comes to promoting healthful options for youngsters, The Fairmont Olympic Hotel’s Executive Chef Gavin Stephenson took healthy eating one step further when he introduced an all organic children’s menu to the Seattle market eight years ago.  Gavin comments “Making real, free range chicken strips is much more time consuming than buying processed chicken products, but the taste and nutritional value is well worth it, along with the peace of mind a chef gets knowing he is doing the right thing for his guests.”

Fairmont’s nutritious take on childhood favorites and the addition of healthy beverage options such as spring water, unsweetened juices, smoothies and shakes is expected to turn the usual meal time battle into a much anticipated event for families staying with the brand.  As part of the luxury hotel brand’s ongoing commitment to welcoming guests of all ages, kids five and under eat for free when ordering from the children’s menu while those 12 and under with a desire for something more grown-up can order child-sized portions from the adult menu or from Fairmont’s newly introduced Lifestyle Cuisine Plus menu that caters to such dietary needs as diabetic and gluten free at 50 percent off the listed price.

Related Articles:

• Fairmont Reduces CO2 Emissions By 8.4%
• Fairmont Zooms Past Mere “Local” Cuisine With New Hyperlocal Menu Items
• Fairmont Hotels & Resorts: No Ordinary Reward

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The Empire State Building has been awarded LEED® Gold for Existing Buildings certification as further recognition from the $550 million Empire State ReBuilding program. The Empire State Building is the tallest and most well known building in the U.S. to receive LEED certification.

The 2.85 million-square-foot building is celebrating its 80th anniversary while nearing completion of its renewal and repurposing to meet the needs of 21st Century businesses. It is one of a small number of National Historic Landmarks to earn the designation, which was established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).

The announcement was made jointly by Anthony Malkin, Empire State Building Company; Dana Robbins Schneider, vice president of Jones Lang LaSalle, program manager of the energy retrofit, LEED feasibility assessment and application process; and Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of USGBC.

The improvements also reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 105,000 metric tons over 15 years. In January 2011, Malkin agreed to buy carbon offsets totalling 55 million kilowatt hours per year of renewable energy, making the Empire State Building carbon-neutral.

“When it was built, the Empire State Building instantly became an icon of its era. Now, due to this remarkable investment in energy efficiency, the Empire State Building will be an icon of the 21st century as well, leading our current era in the retrofitting and upgrading of existing buildings to meet modern energy conditions,” said David Bragdon, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning & Sustainability.

“By earning LEED Gold, the Empire State Building has sent a powerful message that green buildings don’t have to be new – even the most iconic, historic buildings, as grand in scale as in reputation, can be among the most high-performing, energy-efficient, green buildings,” Fedrizzi said. “The leadership exhibited by Tony Malkin, and everyone involved in this project is monumental and should be applauded.”

The Empire State Building ownership directed that sustainable practices be at the center of new operations and upgrades as part of the Empire State ReBuilding program. Low environmental impact operations procedures were put in place immediately following the transition of the day-to-day operations of the building from Helmsley-Spear to Malkin Holdings, supervisor of building owner Empire State Building Company. After the energy efficiency retrofit program was developed and its implementation was underway, Jones Lang LaSalle led a separate study of the feasibility of LEED certification. This Empire State Building Achieves LEED Gold feasibility study showed that LEED Gold certification was within reach at an incremental cost of about $0.25 per square foot.

Beyond energy efficiency, activities at the Empire State Building which helped achieve LEED Gold certification include:

• Installation of ultra low-flow fixtures in the building’s restrooms
• Use of green cleaning supplies and pest control products
• Recycling of tenant waste and construction debris
• Use of recycled paper products
• Use of recycled content carpets, low off-gassing wall coverings, paints, and adhesives
• A program of tenant engagement, including submetering, a newly created Tenant Energy
• Management System, and mandatory green requirements in lease agreements.

In addition to the Empire State Building receiving LEED Gold certification, the USGBC has notified Empire State Building Company and Jones Lang LaSalle that a 3,500-square-foot pre-built space on the 42nd floor has been certified Platinum under the LEED for Commercial Interiors rating system. Jones Lang LaSalle built out the space in accordance with the building’s interior design guidelines in order to demonstrate the cost and energy savings to tenants and prospects. The northward-facing space with views to the east and west is a key stop on leasing tours of the building, and is also available for lease to a tenant with immediate move-in needs.

 
Related Articles:

• Fairmont Reduces CO2 Emissions By 8.4%
• GBTA Acquires ITM’s Project Icarus to Create Travel Industry’s First Global Sustainability Program
• Saving Green by Going Green
• AMR – Socially Responsible Meetings & Incentives Announces Partnership with 1% for the Planet

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Leaders of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and the PCMA Education Foundation joined with members to share 2011 accomplishments and discuss plans for the future at the organization’s first ever Town Hall Meeting on January 11th at PCMA’s 2012 annual meeting, Convening Leaders, in San Diego.

“PCMA is coming off a successful year, and a very successful annual meeting,” said Deborah Sexton, PCMA President and CEO. “But we must continue taking risks on behalf of our members, we must continue to seek out innovation, and we must continue to be a leader in the meetings, conventions, events and trade show industries.”

Outgoing PCMA Chairman of the Board Susan Katz – Director of Corporate Events and Travel for True Value Company — reported that a record number of planners were in attendance at Convening Leaders and that attendance was very strong. (Final numbers will be available in the coming weeks.)

Leaders of PCMA & PCMA Education Foundation Share 2011 Accomplishments and Discuss Future Direction with Members

Other highlights from 2011 included: positive membership trends (a record number of members – 6,400 and a retention rate of 83%), a strategic investment in the Virtual Edge Institute to accelerate the development of education and standards for virtual events, the creation of a New Professionals Task Force to engage new or younger professionals in PCMA, efforts to help connect domestic and international planners and suppliers, and the development of virtual events and social media to expand the organization’s reach.

“From the risks we take for our members to the research we support and the trends we set for the industry, PCMA will remain a leading force in the convention and meetings industry community,” said Incoming PCMA Chairman of the Board Kent Allaway, CEM, CMP – Vice President, Meetings and Trade Shows for the Produce Marketing Association.

In the coming year, Allaway said his areas of focus will include embracing digital delivery vehicles that will help members learn and connect, extending the PCMA brand and its offerings to the global community, and developing targeted programs and tools to serve members in specialized niches.

Outgoing Chairman of the PCMA Education Foundation Board of Trustees Dave Olender – Chief Operating Officer of bxb – reported that despite the challenging economic environment, the Foundation met or exceeded all of its fundraising goals in 2011. Each year the Foundation aims to fund at least $200,000 in grants and scholarships. This year the Foundation met that goal and was also able to fund an important study, The Future of Tradeshows. Another highlight from 2011 was the launch of a planned giving campaign.

“I think we’ve done very well in light of the economy in the last few years, and have been very wise in how we’ve managed our money,” said Incoming Foundation Chair Liz Erikson, Executive Director of Meetings and Incentives for Fairmont-Raffles-Swissotel. “Yet I want to make sure that all of members truly understand the impact of what the Foundation does.”

Erikson said her goals for 2012 include better communicating the Foundation’s activities and goals, creating a long-term strategic plan for the Foundation (three years versus the typical one), and further developing the planned giving campaign launched last year.

“The Town Hall Meeting was a new method for joining in conversation with our members about where the organization is at, and where we think it could go,” said Sexton. “We really take their feedback to heart.”

Related Articles:

• WTTC.org Launches 2012 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards
• Incentive Research Foundation Survey Says: Economy Impacting Incentive Travel Trends
• Total Travel Management Compensation Up 5% Over 2010

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The DMC Network, announced recently that 9 of its North American companies were selected as finalists for Achievement Awards in 11 out of 12 categories and two DMC Network individuals were also selected as finalists for the Recognition Awards categories.

Award winners will be announced Saturday, February 18, 2012, at the Annual ADME Conference Gala at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Finalists from the DMC Network include:

Innovative Events

Under $50,000

• ACCENT on Arrangements, Inc., a DMC Network Company, New Orleans, LA USA

$50,001 – $100,000

• Accent on Indianapolis, a DMC Network Company, Indianapolis, IN USA
• Chicago Travel Consultants, Inc., a DMC Network Company, Chicago, IL USA

$100,001 – $200,000

• Congress Canada, a DMC Network Company, Toronto, ON Canada
• Destination St. Louis, Inc., a DMC Network Company, St. Louis, MO USA

Creative Events

Best Destination Marketing

• Accent on Indianapolis, a DMC Network Company, Indianapolis, IN USA

Best Public Entry

• Capitol Services, Inc., a DMC Network Company, Washington, DC USA
• Destination St. Louis, Inc., a DMC Network Company, St. Louis, MO USA

Best Teambuilding

• ACCENT on Arrangements, Inc., a DMC Network Company, New Orleans, LA USA
• Ultimate Ventures, a DMC Network Company, Dallas, TX USA

Best Tour

• Arrangers DMC, a DMC Network Company, Denver, CO USA
• Ultimate Ventures, a DMC Network Company, Dallas, TX USA

Best Transportation Logistics

• Destination St. Louis, Inc., a DMC Network Company, St. Louis, MO USA

Best Overall Program

• Capitol Services, Inc., a DMC Network Company, Washington, DC USA

Destination Management Rising Star

• Sarah Hines, DMCP, Accent on Indianapolis, a DMC Network Company, Indianapolis, IN USA

Destination Management Professional of the Year

• Fabienne Hanks, DMCP, CMP, 360 Destination Group, a DMC Network Company, Southern California, CA USA

For an entire list of nominees please visit:   ADME 2012 ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Congratulations to all our colleagues for being nominated and good luck to everyone.

Related Articles:

• MCI, an Event Management Company, Builds Presence in North America
• Hosts Global Alliance, an Event Management Company, Continues Expansion
• New APEX Tool for RFPs Now Available

Welcome To The City

The majority of travel buyers (62%) are satisfied with their salaries, with average total compensation climbing five percent this year to $101,736 according to findings released today from the GBTA Foundation’s annual 2011 Travel Management Compensation and Benefits Survey.  Based on the responses of 255 corporate travel and meetings managers working in the U.S. and Canada, a large majority of travel managers (71%) also noted their travel departments haven’t seen job cuts related to the economy.

“Despite global economic challenges, job security and compensation remain strong for travel buyers,” said Craig Banikowski, GBTA Chairman.  “Employers increasingly recognize that business travel is a strategic investment in growth and rely on their travel management teams to ensure a good return on that investment.”

Key Findings:

Salary

Compensation levels for travel professionals tend to increase as total domestic travel spend increases.  In 2011 average compensation by title is as follows:

• Directors: 1% increase to $133,965
• Managers/ Supervisors: 11% increase to $101,250
• Coordinators/Specialists, Administrative Assistants: 5% increase to $62,514
• In addition, two out of five respondents (40%) say their employer offers a stock option plan.

Responsibilities

• Travel managers are increasingly responsible for global programs, with 69% of respondents indicating their program covers travelers based in other countries vs. 54% of respondents in 2010.
• The role of travel managers is multifaceted.  Classic duties include: negotiating with travel vendors (95%); administering corporate travel programs (91%); and developing and administering travel policy (84%).
• Buyers also have responsibilities in other areas such as technology, including evaluating and applying new technology to travel management (80%) and developing travel risk management/travel security programs (50%).

Professional Development

• Nearly 90% of respondents reported their convention attendance and professional association dues are benefits paid in full by their employer.
• Nearly eight out of ten (78%) said their employers also covered continuing education.

“Companies recognize that travel managers are the key to developing and implementing strategic travel management programs and are investing in their continued education,” Banikowski concluded. “Through professional development, business travel buyers will continue to improve their knowledge and skills, expanding their ability to support corporate travelers and help maximize the value of their companies’ travel programs.”

Related articles

• GBTA Acquires ITM’s Project Icarus to Create Travel Industry’s First Global Sustainability Program (mywelcometothecity.com)
• Global Business Travel Spending To Rise 9.2% in 2011 (mywelcometothecity.com)
• Orbitz and StarCite Launch Orbitz for Business Meetings (mywelcometothecity.com)
• New Research to Focus on Incentive From the Travel Participant Viewpoint (mywelcometothecity.com)
• U.S. Gains Travel Jobs in October (mpiweb.org)
• Spending on business travel to increase in 2012 (overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com)

Welcome To The City